Automatic wing stabilizer for boats

ABSTRACT

Automatic wing stabilizer for boats, wherein the stabilizer is pivotally attached to the side of a boat and is constructed so that when the boat is docked or not moving to any extent, the stabilizer hangs down substantially parallel to the side of the boat but when the boat is moving at a minimum speed and thereabove, the stabilizer automatically swings upwardly and outwardly on the top of the water line.

Normand, Me.

3 "1 1 4.5] Mair. M, 197

Keelen ..1 14/123 X Sheen et al... ..l14/l23 UX Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Att0rneyPravel, Wilson & Matthews [5 7] ABfiTRACT Automatic wing stabilizer for boats, wherein the stabilizer is pivotally attached to the side of a boat and is constructed so that when the boat is docked or not: moving to any extent, the stabilizer hangs down substantially parallel to the side of the boat but when the boat is moving at a minimum speed and thereabove, the stabilizer automatically swings upwardly and outwardly on the top of the water line.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing ll lgmres it J m o zs F iii/i:

l. Winn. W

Patented March 14, 1972 3,648,641

2 Sheets-Sheet l [Eu/a0 1 A/ormanaf (/7:

[NV EN TOR plume! MAW (K Maflhew 14 TTORNE YS Patented March 14, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet Z 16*; fan Mrmanaf 1/7:

[NV EN TOR phone! (fr MaifLewA ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC WING STABILIZER FOR BOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is stabilizing devices for boats.

It has been well known for many years that the tendency of a boat to roll over could be inhibited by side floats or pontoons rigidly attached to a boat. For example, see US. Pat. Nos. 1,369,670; l,37l,139; 2,794,191; 3,304,898; and 3,485,198. Some of such prior art pontoons were adjustable to selected fixed positions, but so far as is known, no one in the prior art conceived or recognized the advantages of a float stabilizer for a boat which normally hangs substantially vertically at the side of the boat but which automatically swings upwardly to a nearly horizontal position as the speed of the boat increases a predetermined amount, and which automatically returns to the substantially vertical position when the speed of the boat decreases to a predetermined speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stabilizing device for boats, one of which is pivotally mounted on each side of a boat at the rear section thereof, for automatically swinging from a retracted position to a raised position in response to forward movement of the boat to provide lateral stability of the boat and planing of the boat as it moves through the water. The stabilizing devices also automatically return from the raised position to the retracted position as the boat speed is reduced to thereby permit the boat to go alongside a dock or the like with the side of the boat positioned adjacent thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a boat with a pair of the wing stabilizers of this invention mounted on the rear section of the boat and shown in a raised or extended position;

FIG. 2 is a side view, further illustrating the boat and one of the wing stabilizers shown in FIG. 1, but illustrating the stabilizer in the retracted position along side of the boat;

FIG. 3 is a front view or elevation of the boat of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the wing stabilizers therewith, shown in the raised position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the boat of FIG. 1, with the wing stabilizers therewith in the retracted position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the wing stabilizer of this invention, which is shown enlarged as compared to FIGS. 1-4, and which is shown with only a portion of the boat of FIGS. 11%;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the wing stabilizer of this invention taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the wing stabilizer of FIG. 5, looking at it from the front and the inner surface thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the letter B designates generally a boat which has mounted thereon a pair of wing stabilizers W. Briefly, and as will be explained more in detail hereinafter, the wing stabilizers W are mounted for free unrestrained pivotal movement from a retracted substantially vertical position (FIGS. 2 and 4) to a raised position wherein the stabilizers W are substantially horizontal or are inclined, depending upon the speed of movement of the boat B through the water A. The wing stabilizers W automatically move to and from the retracted position and the raised position, depending upon the speed of movement of the boat B. When the boat B is stationary or is moving at relatively slow speeds, the wing stabilizers W are sufficiently non-buoyant so that the stabilizers W hang at the sides 110 of the boat B (FIG. 4) so that there is substantially no interference or obstruction involved when the boat is docked or is in relatively close quarters. However, when the boat B is underway at predetermined speeds, the wing stabilizers W are sufficiently buoyant so that they are forced upwardly by the movement of the boat B so that at least the outer portion of each of the wing stabilizers W is in contact with the water A to provide for lateral stability of the boat B in the event of rolling of the boat B, and also providing for a planing of the boat B, as will be more evident hereinafter.

As illustrated in the drawings, the boat B has a pointed bow Ill and a stem 12, and it will be appreciated that the shape of the boat B in the drawings is merely exemplary.

The pair of wing stabilizers W used with the boat B are preferably identical, and are so illustrated in the drawings, and therefore, only one of the wing stabilizers W will be described in detail with the same numerals and/or letters being used for both of the wing stabilizers W. Thus, each wing stabilizer W has a stabilizer body 20 which is of :a length less than the length of the boat B. Normally, the stabilizer body 20 is of a length approximately the same as one-half of the length of the boat B, and each of the stabilizers W is placed at the rear section of the boat B to produce planing of the boat as the speed of the boat B increases.

So that the stabilizers W do not extend outwardly to any extent beyond the sides 10 of the boat B when they are retracted, the thickness of each stabilizer body 20 is less than the width of the body 20. The width of the body 20 must be great enough so that the outer edge 21, or at least a portion of the lower surface 22 of the body 20 of at least one of the stabilizers W remains in the water A at all times.

The wing stabilizer body 20 for each stabilizer W is made of any suitable material such as wood, although it may be partially hollow and filled with a flotation material such as urethane or air. However, the stabilizers W are of a material or construction such that they do not float to the extended position of FIG. 3 unless the boat B is moving at a predetermined speed, generally above 5 miles per hour. When the boat B is substantially stationary or is moving at relatively low speeds, the material of each stabilizer body 20 must be sufficiently non-buoyant to cause the body 20 to hang in the water A in the substantially vertical position shown in FIGS. 2 and 1. Weights (not shown) may be added as needed to accomplish the desired buoyancy characteristics of each of the wing stabilizers W in the event the material used for such stabilizers W is excessively buoyant.

Each wing stabilizer body 20 is pivotally connected to the boat B through a hinge means H which may extend for the full length of the body 20 of each stabilizer W, or it may be formed in sections at selected intervals along the length of the body 20. The hinge H should be of the type which permits free swinging of the stabilizer W relative to the boat B within limits, as will be more evident hereinafter.

Preferably, a frame member F is included as a part of each wing stabilizer W for providing the connection of the hinge H to the boat B. Each frame member F is connected to the upper end 10a or near the upper part of the side 10 of the boat B, using screws 25 or any other suitable attaching means. One leg 26 of the hinge means H is connected to the frame member F by any suitable means such as screws (not shown), and the other leg 27 of the hinge means H is similarly connected to the lower or inner surface 22 of the stabilizer body 20 for each wing stabilizer W (FIG. 5).

Each wing stabilizer body 20 is thus hinged or pivotally connected to each frame member F by the hinged means H so that it may swing freely from the substantially vertical position (FIGS. 4 and 5) to a substantially horizontal position wherein the inner edge 31 of the stabilizer body 20 engages a longitudinal outer edge 32 of the frame member F. Upon such engagement of the edges 31 and 32, the upward movement or swinging of the body 20 is stopped. Preferably, a gasket or seal 33 formed of rubber or similar sealing material is disposed between the surfaces 31 and 32 for providing a fluidtight seal therebetween so that water will not spray upwardly between the surfaces 31 and 32 when the boat B is moving at relatively high speeds with the stabilizers W in the raised position. The gasket or strip 33 is preferably carried by the outer longitudinal edge 32 of the frame member F, but it may be carried by the inner longitudinal edge 311 of the stabilizer body 20. The

inner or lower surface 22 of each stabilizer 20 is preferably concave or is curved so that the outer edge 21 is of a greater thickness than the inner edge 31. The curved surface 22 meets the outer edge 21 to form a pointed lower longitudinal edge 22a which functions somewhat like a catamaran section when the stabilizers 20 are caused to swing upwardly to a fully or partially raised or extended position. The sharp edges 22a of the stabilizers W thus minimize drag resistance as the wing stabilizers W move through the water with the boat B, by providing substantially a line contact of each of the stabilizers W in the water A (FIG. 3). The upper surface 35 of each wing stabilizer body 20 is preferably flat, although different configurations or contours thereof may be utilized. It is to be noted that the surface 22 is thus curved relative to the upper surface 35, and an air space 36 is formed between the upper portion of the sides 10 of the boat B and the inner or lower surfaces 22 of the stabilizers W (FIG. 35). Air flow through the space 36 on each side 10 of the boat B contributes to the uplift force exerted on each of the wing stabilizers W as the speed of the boat B increases so as to cause the lifting or upward swinging of the stabilizers W from their retracted position (FIGS. 4 and to at least a partially raised position (FIG. 3) or a fully raised position wherein the edge 31 of each body 20 is in contact with the gasket 33 on the frame F.

To further reduce resistance and to provide an increased uplift on each of the wing stabilizers W, the forward edge 40 of each of the wing stabilizer bodies 20 is tapered rearwardly and outwardly from the portion of each body 20 closest to the boat B (FIGS. 1 and 2). Also, the forward portion of the inner or lower surface 22 is inclined or tapered as indicated at 22b (FIGS. 6-8) to thereby further contribute to the uplift on each of the wing stabilizers W as the boat B moves through the water and the flow of the air in the space 36 underneath the stabilizers W increases.

In the operation or use of the present invention, a pair of the wing stabilizers W are mounted on the boat B which may be of any suitable construction. The stabilizers W are mounted at the rear half or section of the boat B so that as the stabilizers W move upwardly from their retracted position of FIG. 4 to their raised position of FIG. 3 and finally their fully raised position wherein the edges 31 of the bodies 20 engage the gaskets 32, a planing effect is obtained to cause the forward end of the boat 11 to move downwardly and level ofi with the rest of the boat so that an increased speed through the water is obtained with the same amount of horsepower.

When the boat makes a turn, or is subjected to rolling due to wave action, the stabilizers W may float upwardly and be at different elevations with respect to each other. For example, in the event of a turn of the boat B to the left, the tendency of the boat B will be to tip or roll slightly to the left, in which case the stabilizer W on the left will move upwardly to its fully raised position in the normal operation and will resist rolling or tipping action of the boat B. The opposite action occurs when the boat B moves to the right, in which case the right hand wing stabilizer W would serve to prevent tipping or it would minimize rolling of the boat B to the right during the turn.

Because of the air foil effect due to the space 36 below the wing stabilizers W, and the inclined surfaces 40 and 22b, as previously explained, each of the wing stabilizers W is provided with an uplift, the extent of which depends upon the speed of the boat B.

The wing stabilizers W automatically move from the retracted position of FIGS. 4 and 5 to a fully or partially raised position as the boat moves from a stationary or slow speed to an increased speed. Likewise, when the speed of the boat decreases below a predetermined amount, the wing stabilizers W will return to the retracted position of FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the boat B may go along side a dock or another boat or in relatively close quarters without having any obstruction or interference from the wing stabilizers W.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatoare thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and maten s as well as in the details of t e illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wing stabilizer for mounting to the side of a boat, comprising:

a pair of stabilizer bodies;

hinge means for pivotally attaching said stabilizer bodies to the opposite sides of a boat for free and automatic swinging from a retracted substantially vertical position outside of an alongside the boat when the boat is stationary or is moving at low speeds to a raised position when the boat is moving at higher speeds;

each said stabilizer body having a width great enough to extend into the water in which the boat is disposed when the stabilizer body is in said retracted position;

each said stabilizer body being sufficiently non-buoyant to submerge the lower portion of said body when in said retracted substantially vertical position;

each said stabilizer body being of a length less than the length of the boat and mounted at only the rear section of the boat for creating a planing effect as the speed of the boat increases;

gasket means for each stabilizer body disposed in proximity to said hinge means only for preventing water from spraying upwardly between the boat and each said stabilizer body and for creating an air flow tunnel below each said stabilizer body for providing an uplift action on the boat as the boat moves forwardly in the water; and

each said stabilizer body being free from the boat except at said hinge means for providing a fully open space between each said stabilizer body and the boat through which water and air thereabove may flow during forward travel of the boat for creating said planing effect.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

a frame member for each stabilizer body adapted to be secured to the upper edge of each side of the boat and to which each of said hinge means is attached.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said gasket means is disposed between each of said frame members and the upper edge of each of said stabilizer bodies for sealing therebetween when said bodies are in said raised position.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the lower surface of said body is curved relative to the upper surface thereof and is of a greater thickness at the outer end of the body to provide for the flotation of the outer end of the body in the water and for the flow of air underneath said body inwardly of said outer end to obtain increased speeds of the boat.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said outer end at the lower surface of said body is a knife edge for reducing resistance to movement of the body as the boat moves forwardly in the water.

6. The structure set forth in claim I, wherein:

the forward edge of said body is tapered from the hinge means rearwardly; and

the lower surface of said body at said forward edge is inclined, whereby drag resistance of the body in the water is minimized and uplift of the body as the boat moves therein is increased. 

1. A wing stabilizer for mounting to the side of a boat, comprising: a pair of stabilizer bodies; hinge means for pivotally attaching said stabilizer bodies to the opposite sides of a boat for free and automatic swinging from a retracted substantially vertical position outside of an alongside the boat when the boat is stationary or is moving at low speeds to a raised position when the boat is moving at higher speeds; each said stabilizer body having a width great enough to extend into the water in which the boat is disposed when the stabilizer body is in said retracted position; each said stabilizer body being sufficiently non-buoyant to submerge the lower portion of said body when in said retracted substantially vertical position; each said stabilizer body being of a length less than the length of the boat and mounted at only the rear section of the boat for creating a planing effect as the speed of the boat increases; gasket means for each stabilizer body disposed in proximity to said hinge means only for preventing water from spraying upwardly between the boat and each said stabilizer body and for creating an air flow tunnel below each said stabilizer body for providing an uplift action on the boat as the boat moves forwardly in the water; and each said stabilizer body being free from the boat except at said hinge means for providing a fully open space between each said stabilizer body and the boat through which water and air thereabove may flow during forward travel of the boat for creating said planing effect.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a frame member for each stabilizer body adapted to be secured to the upper edge of each side of the boat and to which each of said hinge means is attached.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said gasket means is disposed between each of said frame members and the upper edge of each of said stabilizer bodies for sealing therebetween when said bodies are in said raised position.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: the lower surface of said body is curved relative to the upper surface thereof and is of a greater thickness at the outer End of the body to provide for the flotation of the outer end of the body in the water and for the flow of air underneath said body inwardly of said outer end to obtain increased speeds of the boat.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein: said outer end at the lower surface of said body is a knife-edge for reducing resistance to movement of the body as the boat moves forwardly in the water.
 6. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein: the forward edge of said body is tapered from the hinge means rearwardly; and the lower surface of said body at said forward edge is inclined, whereby drag resistance of the body in the water is minimized and uplift of the body as the boat moves therein is increased. 